Temminck's Courser

About

Temminck's Courser is a small, terrestrial wader found across sub-Saharan Africa. It is characterized by its sandy-brown plumage, distinctive head pattern, and long legs, adapted for running in open, dry habitats. It is often seen foraging for insects on bare ground or short grass.

Size & lifespan

Length

19-22 cm

Wingspan

45-50 cm

Weight

50-70 g

Lifespan

Approximately 5-8 years in the wild

Diet

Insectivore

Physical characteristics

Plumage

Overall sandy-brown to rufous-brown plumage on the upperparts, fading to paler buff on the belly. The crown is rufous-chestnut, bordered by a black line that extends from behind the eye. A white supercilium is present above this black line. The throat is white, and the breast is buffy-orange, often with a faint dark band. The primary flight feathers are black, contrasting with the brown upperwing coverts. The underwing is mostly white with black tips to the primaries. The rump and tail are sandy-brown, with the central tail feathers having dark tips.

Beak shape

Short, slender, slightly decurved black bill.

Eye color

Dark brown eyes.

Leg color

Long, pale yellowish-white to creamy-white legs and feet.

Distinguishing features

The combination of rufous-chestnut crown, black post-ocular stripe, white supercilium, and pale legs are key distinguishing features. In flight, the black primaries contrasting with the brown upperwing are noticeable.

Juvenile appearance

Juveniles are duller and more mottled than adults, with less distinct head markings. The rufous crown is less pronounced, and the black stripe behind the eye is often duller or incomplete. The upperparts are more streaked or scaled with dark brown.

Seasonal changes

No significant seasonal plumage changes. Plumage may appear slightly worn or faded outside of the breeding season.

Sexual dimorphism

Males and females are generally monomorphic in plumage. Females may be slightly larger on average, but this is not reliably discernible in the field.

How to identify

1. 1

   Head Pattern

   Look for the distinctive rufous-chestnut crown, bordered by a thin black line extending from behind the eye, and a contrasting white supercilium above it. This is the most reliable field mark.

2. 2

   Plumage Coloration

   Note the sandy-brown to rufous-brown upperparts and paler, buffy underparts. The breast often has a warm, buffy-orange wash.

3. 3

   Legs

   Observe the long, pale yellowish-white legs, which are characteristic of coursers and adapted for running.

4. 4

   Flight Pattern

   In flight, look for the strong, direct flight with rapid wingbeats and the striking contrast of black primary flight feathers against the brown upperwing coverts.

5. 5

   Behavior

   Its habit of running short distances, stopping abruptly to peck at the ground, and then running again is typical. Often seen in open, short-grass areas.

Habitat & range

Biomes

Savanna, grasslands, open woodlands, semi-arid scrubland.

Geographic range

Sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal and Mauritania east to Ethiopia and Somalia, and south to Angola, Botswana, and South Africa.

Elevation range

Typically found from sea level up to 2,000 meters, occasionally higher.

Preferred environments

Prefers open, short-grass plains, recently burnt areas, cultivated fields, and sparsely vegetated sandy or stony ground. Avoids dense vegetation and tall grass.

Behavior

Activity time

Diurnal, most active during the cooler parts of the day, especially early morning and late afternoon.

Feeding habits

Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of insects such as ants, termites, beetles, grasshoppers, and their larvae. It forages by running short distances, stopping abruptly to peck at prey on the ground. It often follows large mammals or fires to catch disturbed insects.

Social behavior

Usually seen singly, in pairs, or in small family groups. Outside the breeding season, they may gather in loose flocks of up to 30-50 individuals at favored feeding or roosting sites.

Flight pattern

Flight is strong and direct, with rapid wingbeats. When flushed, it typically flies a short distance before landing and running off. In display flight, it may perform aerial maneuvers.

Migration pattern

Mostly resident or a partial migrant, undertaking local or regional movements in response to rainfall and food availability. Some populations in the Sahel region are migratory, moving south during the dry season.

Territoriality

Territorial during the breeding season, with pairs defending a nesting area. Outside of breeding, they are less territorial.

Breeding & reproduction

Breeding season

Varies geographically, generally coinciding with the rainy season. For example, in West Africa, June-September; in East Africa, March-May and October-December; in Southern Africa, September-March.

Nesting habits

Nests are a simple scrape on the bare ground, often unlined or sparsely lined with a few pebbles or bits of vegetation. Nests are typically placed in open areas with good visibility.

Clutch size

2 eggs

Egg description

Typically 2 eggs, rarely 1 or 3. Eggs are oval to pyriform, pale buff to creamy-white, heavily speckled and blotched with dark brown, black, and grey, providing excellent camouflage.

Incubation period

18-19 days

Fledging period

Chicks are precocial and leave the nest scrape shortly after hatching. They are able to feed themselves within a few days and fledge (become capable of sustained flight) at around 3-4 weeks.

Parental care

Both parents share incubation duties and care for the young. Chicks are brooded and led to feeding areas by both adults.

Where to find

Field tips

1. Scan Open Ground. Temminck's Coursers are terrestrial and blend in well with their surroundings. Use binoculars to scan open, sparsely vegetated areas, especially at dawn and dusk.
2. Look for Movement. Their characteristic run-stop-peck foraging behavior often gives them away. Look for subtle movements on the ground.
3. Check Burnt Patches. Actively seek out recently burnt grassland or savanna, as these areas are often favored for foraging.
4. Listen for Calls. During the breeding season, listen for their soft, piping calls, especially during display flights.
5. Approach Slowly. Coursers are generally wary. Approach slowly and avoid sudden movements to prevent flushing them. They often prefer to run rather than fly.

Similar species

Quick facts

Habitat:

Open grasslands, savannas, burnt areas

Diet:

Insects (ants, termites, beetles)

Conservation Status:

Least Concern (IUCN Red List)

Distribution:

Sub-Saharan Africa

Nesting:

Ground scrape

Sociality:

Solitary, pairs, small flocks

Fun facts

• Temminck's Courser is named after Coenraad Jacob Temminck, a Dutch zoologist.
• Their cryptic plumage provides excellent camouflage, making them difficult to spot against the dry African landscape.
• Like many coursers, they are highly adapted for running, using their long legs to cover ground quickly when foraging or escaping predators.
• They are known to follow large grazing animals, such as wildebeest or zebras, to feed on insects disturbed by their hooves.

Scientific classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Charadriiformes

Family

Glareolidae

Genus

Cursorius

Species

temminckii

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